How to Measure Yourself for Garb

Cloth measuring tape (these can be bought for $1 at any craft store or Walmart)

Piece of paper and a pen or pencil

Men

Below are the most common measurements for men's garb:

Chest: Place the tape measure around the fullest part of your chest and inhale.Waist: Waistline is measured at your natural waistline, not where you wear your everyday pants. To find your natural waistline, bend to one side. Your natural waistline is where your body bends. Place tape measure here.Inseam: Place the end of the tape measure at the top of your crotch. Holding the tape measure here, measure down to your interior anklebone (the knob on the inside of your ankle).Arm Length: Place the end of the tape measure at the top of your shoulder and measure down to your wrist.Neck Circumference: Place the tape measure around the thickest part of your neck.

Additional measurements that you may be asked for:

Bicep: Measure around the fullest part of your arm. Flex if it doing so adds significantly more bulk.Hip: Measure around the fullest part of your lower half. Most men wear their pants on their natural hips (if you press into your hips, you'll feel your hipbones). This is where you place the tape measure.Outseam: Place the end of the tape measure at your natural hip (hipbones) and measure down to your outer anklebone.Underarm: Place end of tape measure in your armpit and measure down to your wrist.Across Shoulders: Place the end of the tape measure on the outer edge of one shoulder and measure across to the outer edge of the other shoulder.Back Length: This measurement is most often used when trying to figure out how long you want your tunics or surcoats. Place end of tape measure at the base of your neck (where the back collar of the t-shirt sits) and measure straight down to the length you want your garment.

Women

Below are the most common measurements for women's garb:

Bust: Place the tape measure around the fullest part of your bust (right on top of the girls) and inhale.Waist: Waistline is measured at your natural waistline. To find your natural waistline, bend to one side. Your natural waistline is where your body bends. Place tape measure here.Hip: Accurate hip measurements are especially important in women's garb. Measure around the fullest part of your lower torso (usually between 8-10 inches below your natural waist, right around where your bum starts).Arm Length: Place the end of the tape measure at the top of your shoulder and measure down to your wrist.Back Length: Place the end of tape measure at the base of your neck (where the back collar of the t-shirt sits) and measure straight down to the length you want your garment.

Additional measurements you may be asked for:

Underbust: Place the tape measure right under the girls (where the bottom of your bra falls).Depth from Top of Shoulder to Full Part of Bust: Place the end of the tape measure at the top of your shoulder and measure straight down your front to the fullest part of your chest.Distance Between Waist and Hip: Place the end of the tape measure at natural waistline and measure to your hipbone.Inseam: Place the end of the tape measure at the top of your crotch. Holding the tape measure here, measure down to your interior anklebone (the knob on the inside of your ankle).Underarm: Place the end of the tape measure in your armpit and measure down to your wrist.Across Shoulders: Place the end of the tape measure on the outer edge of one shoulder and measure across the outer edge of the other shoulder.Front Length: Front length is similar to back length, except you are measuring down your front to your desired hem. Place tape measure at the top of your shoulder and measure straight down to desired hem.

Tips for measuring yourself:

Whenever possible, measure yourself in your underwear (take off the water bra!).